The Odds-On Favorite To Win The NBA Finals MVP: Kevin Durant 7/5

Kevin Durant hasn’t played in the NBA Finals since 2012 when he was with the Thunder. Fast forward 5 years and he is the NBA Finals MVP favorite and the player that everyone loves to hate, including me. As the favorite, the NBA oddsmakers are sending a clear signal that Durant is the key for the Warriors second title in three years.

The Smart Bet To Win The NBA Finals MVP: LeBron James 2/1

LeBron James has averaged 32.5 points, 12.2 rebounds and 8.8 assists a game in the 13 NBA Finals games these past two years. Which Warrior will stop LeBron this time around?

There’s only one player in the NBA who can handle James better than fully healthy Andre Iguodala: Kawhi Leonard. But is Iguodala up to the task this time around with a wonky knee? If can’t stop King James, the task to slow down the best player in the league falls to either Draymond Green or Kevin Durant.

The Sharp Pick To Win The NBA Finals MVP: Kyrie Irving 10/1

Kyrie Irving outplayed Stephen Curry in the last three games of the 2016 NBA Finals. Can he repeat the feat this season?

Last season, Cleveland became the first team in NBA history to come back from a 3-1 deficit and win the title. In those final three games, Irving averaged 30 points and shot .523 from the field (and .529 from 3-point range). Curry, meanwhile, averaged 24 points but shot .367 from the field and .357 from deep. Curry averaged four turnovers to Irving’s three in those games.

The 2017 NBA Finals tip-off on June 1st and it will be Cleveland Vs Golden State III.

For the third straight year the Cavaliers will face the Warriors for the NBA Championship and with each side winning once a piece there is a lot on the line. A Warriors/Cavs NBA Finals matchup was available at +145 in the preseason. Throughout the season as the matchup seemed more and more likely, the NBA oddsmakers gave the Warriors the edge. Now let’s find out who you should bet on to win the 2017 NBA Finals.

Bet on Golden State Warriors -330 Because…

Golden State is undefeated in 12 playoff games during the post-season. The Warriors swept Portland in 4 games in Round 1. In the Conference Semifinals, Golden State beat Utah in 4 games. Then, in what was supposed to be an exciting NBA Western Conference Finals, the Warriors dominated the San Antonio Spurs 4 to 0 in that 7-game series.

Golden State looks unbeatable because they’ve been unbeatable.

Bet on Cleveland Cavaliers +270 Because…

Cleveland’s defense has picked it up big time during the NBA Playoffs. In 13 playoff games this post-season, the Cavaliers have held 3 of their opponents under 100. In 10 of the 13 games, the Cavs’ opponents scored 105 points or less. The most that any opponent has scored against the Cavaliers’ defense was 114 in a 119 to 114 Cleveland win over Indiana on April 20.

Golden State Vs Cleveland Pick & Final Score Prediction

It’s difficult to go against the Golden State Warriors. The addition of Kevin Durant has made the Warriors a much more dangerous team that anyone might have imagined. The problem with facing the Warriors is that both KD and Steph Curry are unselfish. If Durant has the hot hand, Curry delivers the ball to him. If Curry has the hot hand, Durant delivers the ball to him.

Throw in supremely skilled Draymond Green and the Warriors appear untouchable. But, Golden State faces the player that I think is the greatest to ever step onto a basketball court. LeBron James is called the King for a reason.

James willed his team to victory in the NBA Finals against Golden State last season. I see him doing the same thing this season. I just don’t believe that anybody on Golden State’s team can stop the King.

The one game during the entire NBA Playoffs that I keep looking back on is Golden State’s Game 1 against the San Antonio Spurs. In that match up, Kawhi Leonard single-handedly dominated Golden State. Up until Zaza Pachulia took Kawhi out of the game, the best player in the Western Conference had scored 26 points in less than 25 minutes. San Antonio was up by 23.

LeBron is healthy. Kevin Love is healthy. Kyrie Irving is healthy. I don’t see a situation where Zaza, or anybody else on Golden State’s team, can take out LeBron. I think James goes nuts from Game 1.

The Cavaliers are playing lights out defense while the Big 3 is dominating on offense. LeBron is chasing MJ. He’s not going to let the Splash Brothers and Durant stand in his way.

FOX will broadcast more than 45 hours of coverage across FOX, FS1 and FOX Deportes and the FOX Sports Go app. That’s an increase from the 40 hours promised in 2016. Live streaming will also be available at usopen.com and on the U.S. Open app.

The majors have produced six straight first-time winners, and only one semi-dud (2016 Masters) in the bunch. Will we get a seventh in a row at Erin Hills? Keep reading to find out.

U.S. Open Golf Odds and Picks

Odds To Win 2017 U.S. Open

GOLFER

OPENING ODDS

CURRENT

Dustin JOHNSON

8-1

7-1

Rory McILROY

9-1

9-1

Jordan SPIETH

10-1

10-1

Jason DAY

12-1

12-1

Justin ROSE

15-1

15-1

Jon RAHM

20-1

15-1

Hideki MATSUYAMA

15-1

20-1

Sergio GARCIA

25-1

20-1

Rickie FOWLER

25-1

25-1

Adam SCOTT

25-1

25-1

Henrik STENSON

25-1

25-1

Phil MICKELSON

30-1

30-1

Justin THOMAS

30-1

30-1

Brooks KOEPKA

40-1

30-1

Thomas PIETERS

40-1

40-1

Patrick REED

50-1

40-1

Branden GRACE

50-1

40-1

Matt KUCHAR

40-1

40-1

Paul CASEY

50-1

50-1

Louis OOSTHUIZEN

50-1

50-1

Bubba WATSON

60-1

60-1

Brandt SNEDEKER

60-1

60-1

Martin KAYMER

60-1

60-1

Charl SCHWARTZEL

60-1

60-1

Daniel BERGER

60-1

60-1

Tyrrell HATTON

80-1

80-1

Jimmy WALKER

80-1

80-1

Zach JOHNSON

80-1

80-1

Matthew FITZPATRICK

80-1

80-1

Shane LOWRY

80-1

80-1

Alex NOREN

125-1

80-1

Kevin CHAPPELL

125-1

80-1

Jim FURYK

100-1

100-1

J.B. HOLMES

100-1

100-1

Ryan MOORE

100-1

100-1

Gary WOODLAND

100-1

100-1

Russell HENLEY

100-1

100-1

Kevin KISNER

125-1

100-1

Si Woo KIM

300-1

100-1

Charley HOFFMAN

100-1

100-1

Marc LEISHMAN

100-1

100-1

Adam HADWIN

100-1

100-1

Russell KNOX

100-1

100-1

Jason DUFNER

100-1

100-1

Bill HAAS

125-1

100-1

Tony FINAU

125-1

125-1

Wesley BRYAN

150-1

125-1

Tommy FLEETWOOD

150-1

125-1

Graeme McDOWELL

150-1

125-1

Emiliano GRILLO

125-1

150-1

Rafael CABRERA BELLO

125-1

150-1

Danny WILLETT

125-1

150-1

Bryson DeCHAMBEAU

125-1

150-1

Francesco MOLINARI

200-1

150-1

Byeong Hun AN

150-1

150-1

Billy HORSCHEL

150-1

150-1

Brendan STEELE

150-1

150-1

Webb SIMPSON

150-1

150-1

Kevin NA

200-1

150-1

Bernd WIESBERGER

200-1

150-1

Ryan PALMER

200-1

150-1

Ian POULTER

200-1

150-1

Pat PEREZ

150-1

150-1

Soren KJELDSEN

150-1

150-1

Keegan BRADLEY

150-1

150-1

William McGIRT

200-1

200-1

Ross FISHER

200-1

200-1

Hudson SWAFFORD

200-1

200-1

Jamie LOVEMARK

200-1

200-1

Andy SULLIVAN

200-1

200-1

Scott PIERCY

200-1

200-1

Charles HOWELL III

200-1

200-1

David LINGMERTH

200-1

200-1

Lucas GLOVER

200-1

200-1

Luke DONALD

200-1

200-1

Martin LAIRD

200-1

200-1

Harris ENGLISH

250-1

250-1

Chris KIRK

250-1

250-1

Graham DeLAET

250-1

250-1

Jhonattan VEGAS

250-1

250-1

Patrick RODGERS

250-1

250-1

Chris WOOD

250-1

250-1

Danny LEE

250-1

250-1

Daniel SUMMERHAYS

250-1

250-1

Andrew JOHNSTON

250-1

250-1

Ernie ELS

300-1

300-1

Angel CABRERA

300-1

300-1

Jeunghun WANG

300-1

300-1

Sean O’HAIR

300-1

300-1

Anirban LAHIRI

300-1

300-1

Hunter MAHAN

300-1

300-1

Kiradech APHIBARNRAT

300-1

300-1

Hideto TANIHARA

300-1

300-1

Maverick McNEALY

500-1

500-1

Yuta IKEDA

500-1

500-1

Roberto CASTRO

500-1

500-1

Gene SAUERS

1000-1

1000-1

Brad DALKE

2000-1

2000-1

Scott GREGORY

2000-1

2000-1

The Odds-On Favorite To Win The 2017 U.S. Open: Dustin Johnson 7-1

It’s tough to look past DJ. If not for a three-putt, he would be working towards his third straight U.S. Open Championship. That’s how well numero uno has been hitting the ball the past couple of years.

After winning two straight championships, the Genesis Open and the WGC-Mexico, DJ has finished twelfth and thirteenth in his last tournaments played. I wouldn’t worry so much about that if you like DJ heading into the U.S. Open. From now until the major on June 15, he’s going to practice shots.

He’s a deserving favorite, no doubt. But, I’ve never bet on a golfer at single-digit odds to win a major tournament. I’m not going to start now. I’ll look elsewhere.

The Smart Pick To Win The 2017 U.S. Open: Justin Rose 15-1

I don’t like Rory McIlroy at 9 to 1. I’m not in love with Jordan Spieth at 10-1. Jason Day at 12-1 has some attraction. But, Justin Rose at 15 to 1 makes the most sense to me. Rose has never won a major tournament. He lost to Sergio Garcia in a playoff at Augusta in April. That’s the closest he’s ever gotten to taking home a major tournament trophy.

It appears as if Rose is saving his best for the majors. He finished thirty-eighth, thirteenth, and fifteenth before the second-place finish at the Masters. He just finished sixty-fifth at TPC-Sawgrass in a tournament from May 11 through May 14.

Rose figures to try shots he’s going to need in the next couple of tournaments. The veteran golfer knows exactly what he needs to do so that he’s at his best on June 15. I love the odds and I love his chances.

The Longshot Pick To Win The 2017 U.S. Open: Thomas Pieters 40-1

The Belgian golfer plays in the U.S. Open for the first time. It won’t matter. He played in the Masters for the first time earlier this year. All he did was finish tied for fourth. Pieters has no fear. In the Ryder Cup last year, he went 4 and 1 versus the Americans. I think he can pull off the upset. At 40 to 1, he’s definitely worth considering.